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N0. 6"],092. Patented Aug. 30, I898. B. C. SEATDN.

CONTACT DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

(Application filed Feb. 4, 1898.)

(N0 Mode l.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

miiiiill 9 l Ill No. 6|0,092. l Patented Aug. 30, I898. B. c. SEATUN. CONTACT DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

(Applicaiion filed Feb. 4, 1898.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. 159m,

(No Model.)

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BENJAMIN C. SEATON, OFS'IILOIIIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TOTHE ELECTRIC THIRD RAIL AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CONTACT DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAY S.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,092, dated August 30, 1898.

' Application filed February 4, 1898?. Serial No. 669,139. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN C. SEATON, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri,

have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Contact Devices for Electric Railways, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved construction of contact devices or shoes for electric railways. I

My invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure I is an end view of my improved contact device, the supporting bar being shown in section taken on line I I, Fig. 11. Fig. II is a side view showing the rail from which the current is taken, in section. Fig. III is a horizontal section taken on line III III, Fig. I. Fig. IV is a like view taken on line IV IV, Fig. I. Fig. V is a detail vertical section showing part of the supporting-bar and the upper ends of the hangers, the section being taken on line V V, Fig. VI. Fig. V1 is a vertical section taken on line VI VI,

' Fig.'V. Fig. VII is a detail vertical section taken on line VII VII, Fig. VIII. Fig. VIII is a detail top view showing part of a car and the application of my invention thereto. Fig. IX is a detail vertical section taken on line IX IX, Fig. VIII. Fig. X is a like view taken on line X X, Fig. VIII.

1 represents part of a car-body, and 2 one of the platforms.

3 is a bar adapted to be secured to one of the car-trucks. This bar is preferably inthe form of a channel-iron, which is secured to the truck with its open side downward.

4 represents hangers hinged to the bar 3 by means of bolts or pins 5, fitting loosely in slots 6 in the bar. Each hanger if composed of a body 7, of non-conducting material,such as fiber, to the lower end of which a shoe 8 is secured, and the upper end of which is provided with a strap or head 9 to receive its supporting bolt or pin 5. Around the central part of the body of each hanger fits a metallic band 10, that serves to strengthen the hanger. The

shoes 8 are connected by bolts 11 to frames 12, (see Fig. 111,") the frames being hinged by bolts or screws 13 to heads 14, connected to the lower ends of the hangers 4 by means of bolts 15. The heads 14, the frames 12, and the shoes 8 are made of brass or some other good conductingmaterial. The heads 14 are provided with binding-posts 10 to receive the conducting-Wires 17 ,"that pass to the motors. (Not shown.) The edges of the body of the hangers are grooved out, as shown at 18, Fig.v

V1,.to receive the insulated wires 17.

' Secured to the back of eachhead 14 by means of the bolts 15 is a metal strip 19, the ends of which lap onto the ends of the frame 12, vas shown in Fig. III, the function of these strips being to support the shoes, through the frames 12, in a horizontal position, this being accomplished by the flat strips bearing against the flat ends of the frames. Should a vertical strain be brought to bear on the shoes, the strips 19 will spring or yield sufficiently to permit the frames 12 to rock on their pins or screws 13, thus providing for a vertical 0scillation of the shoes and permitting them to yield to any vertical strain they may be subjected to while the'car is in motion.

The shoes are designed to bear against a third rail or conductor 20, as shown in Fig. II. The shoes are forced against the conductor or rail by means of springs 21, secured to the bar 3, (see Figs. V and V1,) and should the shoes be subjected to lateral strains while the car is in motion these springs will permit the shoes to yield to the strain. The springs keep the upper ends of the hangers pressed against rounded brackets 22, secured to the bar 3, (see Fig. V,) and should the shoes be subjected to' a twisting strainas, for instance, when the car is rounding. a curvethe hangers will twist, the bolts 5 moving in theslots 6, thus permitting the yielding of the shoes to such twisting strains. The shoes are thus supported in a manner that provides for their universal movement under all strains to which they are subjected.

Secured to the bar 3 is a pair of grooved pulleys 24:, that receive a pair of cords or ca bles 25, (see Fig. VIII,) the cables passing over grooved pulleys 26, j ournale-d in the bar 3, and the ends of the cables being connected to the hangers 4:. For the attachment of the cables to the hangers the latter are provided with eyebolts 27. (See Figs. I and II.) The cables are secured to a single cable 28, se cured to adrum or pulley 29 on a shaft 30. (See Figs. VIII and IX.) The shaft is journaled to the under side of the platform of the car, and to it is secured a pinion 31, engaged by a rack 32, that extends up through the platform of the car. (See Fig. X.) On the upper end of the rack is a stem provided with a foot-piece 83. The rack is supported, normally, in its upper position by means of a spring 34. By depressing the rack the shaft 30 is turned, and the contact-shoes, through means of the described connection between them and the drum 29, are turned away from the conductor or rail 20 to throw the motors out of electrical connection with the rail. The motorman thus has it within his power to move the shoes from the conductor 'or rail without using his hands, which are required for handling the rheostat and the brake of the car.

By making the bodies of the hangers of nonconducting material and by using insulated wires that are connected to the heads carried by the lower ends of the hangersthe hangers themselves do not become charged, nor is any part of the structure above the shoes and heads that carry them charged, so that work can be done on these parts, if desired, without throwing the shoes out of contact .with the conductor or rail, and should any metallic pieces come in contact with the parts above the shoes from the truck or frame of the car or otherwise such metallic pieces will not become charged, nor will the motors be short-circuited.

I claim as my invention 1. In a contact device for electric railways, the combination of a hanger, a head secured to the hanger, a frame pivoted to the head, a shoe secured to the frame, and a spring for holding said frame in a horizontal position, substantially as set forth.

2. In a cont-act device for electric railways, the combination of a hanger, a head secured to the hanger, a frame pivoted to the head, a shoe secured to the frame, and a flat spring secured to the hanger and the ends of which bear against the flat ends of said frame to hold the latter in a horizontal position, sub stantially as set forth.

3. In a contact device for electric railways, a supporting-bar, a hanger having a slot-andpin connection with the bar, abracket against which the hanger bears, a spring forcing the hanger against the bracket, and a shoe secured to the lower end of the hanger, substantially as set forth.

4. In a contact device for electric railways, the combination of a bar, a hanger having slot-and-pin connection with the bar,a bracket against which the hanger bears, a spring for pressing the hanger against the bracket,.a head secured to the lower end of the hanger, a frame pivoted to the head, and a shoe secured to the frame, substantially as set forth.

5. In a contact device for electric railways, a bar, a hanger secured to the bar so as to swing horizontally in a vertical plane, and a shoe secured to the hanger and adapted to swing in a vertical plane when subjected to strain, substantially as set forth.

6. In a contact device for electric railways, the combination of pivoted hangers, shoes carried by the hangers, cables secured to the hangers, pulleys over which the cables pass, a drum or pulley for moving said cables, a shaft to which the drum is secured, a pinion on the shaft, and a rack for engaging said pinion and which is provided with a foot-piece, substantially as set forth.

BENJAMIN O. SEATON.

In presence of- E. S. KNIGHT, N. V. ALEXANDER. 

